Chapter 544 The Ninth Day
Shang Ruyi calmly handed the hairpin to Tu She'er and said, "Then take it back to her. It just fell outside."
Tushe'er hurriedly took it and put it away, saying, "Yes."
Afterwards, the two washed up and went to bed.
However, exhausted, she couldn't fall asleep for a long time after lying in bed. Even after the third watch of the night had begun, Shang Ruyi could still hear the clear and alert breathing of the person next to her.
She said softly, "You're still awake?"
Yuwen Ye slowly turned his head, looking into her bright eyes in the dim light: "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
Shang Ruyi said softly, "Do you think our plan this time will really work?"
Yuwen Ye fell silent.
After a while, he said, "Are you worried because of that hairpin?"
"..."
Shang Ruyi bit her lower lip and nodded silently.
She knew perfectly well that Yuwen Qian finding that hairpin was a misstep they had made.
That was the hairpin that Wo Xue usually wore, but she didn't usually go to the places where Yuwen Qian was acting. Moreover, she had spent the whole day with Shang Ruyi in Chang Le Fang.
The only place where the hairpin could have fallen and been picked up by Yuwen Qian was Yanzuofang.
That is, when she followed the middle-aged man into Yanzuofang, saw clearly the people administering medicine in the ward, and even picked up the money bag that the middle-aged man had dropped, which belonged to "Guanghanke".
As for Yuwen Qian, although he was not familiar with Wo Xue, they lived in the same Duke's mansion. Shang Ruyi was certain that with his keen senses, he must know who the hairpin belonged to. Otherwise, he would not have taken the initiative to return it to her.
In other words—Yuwen Qian knew, and they knew.
But the significance of his action goes far beyond that.
He not only knew they knew, but he also wanted to tell them that he knew they knew...
This is what made Shang Ruyi uneasy.
She couldn't imagine what kind of mentality would make Yuwen Qian return the hairpin to her, unless he was absolutely certain of victory—so certain that even if he revealed his secrets to the other party, he wouldn't suffer defeat.
I guess all I can do is watch it like a show.
Just thinking about it made Shang Ruyi shake her head inwardly.
impossible!
What they were fighting for was not only the lives of the patients in the East and West Cities, but also the "great reward" that Yuwen Yuan mentioned, which was the future possible position of Crown Prince that everyone knew about!
Would he dare to have such a spectator mentality?
Thinking of this, Shang Ruyi felt even more confused. She already knew what she should do, but Yuwen Qian's small action made her start to doubt.
Seeing the deep furrows between her brows, Yuwen Ye let out a heavy sigh and said, "Actually, even without that hairpin, do you think our elder brother wouldn't know we suspected him?"
"..."
"Nobody believes you sold that batch of medicine to Xingyuan for no reason."
"..."
"Don't say that my elder brother doesn't believe it, my father might not believe it either, and they certainly wouldn't believe that our two councils would allow people to sell overpriced medicine in a city plagued by the epidemic."
"..."
Shang Ruyi took a deep breath and nodded silently—that's right, she knew that not only Yuwen Qian didn't believe it, but Yuwen Yuan was even less likely to believe it. The reason they didn't ask any more questions was simply because they understood each other without saying a word.
In other words, their current situation is that Yuwen Qian knows they want to lure out the person behind him.
They also knew that Yuwen Qian wanted to keep that person's existence a secret.
At the same time, it is also necessary to eradicate the epidemic in the wards and cities under its jurisdiction as soon as possible in order to win the "generous reward" that Yuwen Yuan mentioned.
It's like a game where you can't see the black and white pieces. All you can see is each other, but behind each other are three heads and six arms, swords and spears, waiting to devour each other, one rising and the other falling.
Therefore, what Shen Wuzheng said during the day was correct.
They might be facing someone who can foresee the future. Since they don't know as much as the other person, they can only think more and more deeply than the other person in order to deal with it.
Shang Ruyi said softly, "I understand..."
|
A few days passed in the blink of an eye.
After several days of searching, no new patients were found in the markets and wards of the east and west cities, and the spread of the plague in the city was temporarily brought under control.
However, the biggest problem at hand is curing the more than 5,000 patients in Chang Le Fang and Yan Zuo Fang.
At this time, doctors from various clinics and pharmacies in the city, as well as their students, were assigned to the two markets. Apart from one assistant physician and two supervisors who remained in the palace to serve, all the other medical officers from the Imperial Medical Bureau were dispatched here. During the day, they performed fumigation and acupuncture on patients, and at night they stayed up all night monitoring the condition of seriously ill patients.
After several days and nights of tireless work, nearly a hundred patients died from the disease every day except for the first three days. In the following days, the number of deaths finally began to decrease.
Even in the stable under Su Qinglan's jurisdiction, the condition of the remaining patients has been brought under control.
Early that morning, Shang Ruyi, as usual, brought Tushe'er and Woxue to Chang Le Fang. The air was still thick with smoke. Several doctors were waving around paper tubes wrapped with mugwort and sandalwood, which they had lit. The patients sitting on straw mats were used to the smoke and no one coughed.
When Shang Ruyi looked up, she saw Wu Huanzhi and the two physicians behind him walking towards her. Although they were wearing veils, their eyes clearly showed a hint of joy.
Shang Ruyi stepped forward and said, "Lord Wu."
"Young Madam."
Upon seeing her, the joy in Wu Huanzhi's eyes faded slightly, but he was still happy and bowed to her with his hands clasped in greeting.
Shang Ruyi asked, "How were the patients in the ward last night?"
Mentioning this, Wu Huanzhi's smile deepened, and he said, "Last night, no one in the neighborhood died of illness."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi's eyes widened in surprise. Tu She'er and Wo Xue behind her couldn't contain their excitement either, exclaiming, "Really? Not a single one—it's alright!?"
Wu Huanzhi smiled and nodded.
Tusheer and Woxue clapped their hands with joy: "That's wonderful!"
It is well known that patients suffering from the plague often stop breathing in their sleep at night. Because there are too many patients in the ward and not enough doctors, they often do not discover the patients' already cold bodies until daytime. Therefore, the first thing Shang Ruyi does when she arrives at Chang Le Ward every morning is to ask about the number of people who died the night before.
Even though the numbers are decreasing day by day, every time a cold body is carried out, countless people will watch, casting a heavy shadow over their hearts.
A heavy sense of guilt also weighed on her heart.
But today, there wasn't a single one!
In other words, if the patients' conditions could be controlled during the day, perhaps from now on, no one will die in Chang Le Fang!
Although she wasn't as overjoyed as Tusheer and the others, almost jumping for joy, Shang Ruyi's eyes crinkled with laughter as she nodded repeatedly, saying, "That's good."
As she spoke, she looked up at the doctors who were still busy around her and said softly, "Please continue to work hard for a few more days. As long as we can save the patients in Chang Le Fang, the court will surely reward us handsomely. The General, the Duke, and I will also remember your contributions!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's spirits immediately lifted.
It's important to know that despite being plagued by the plague, it doesn't stop the people here from discussing the major events that have been happening these days, especially—major events that could change the world.
Therefore, the imperial court's generous reward may not be much.
But the merits recorded by the young mistress in front of us, the great general behind her, and the duke behind the great general, are no ordinary merits!
Everyone felt a surge of encouragement and said, "Thank you, young mistress!"
Shang Ruyi smiled and turned to look at Wu Huanzhi. He was the most tired person these past few days. He had to take care of all the patients in the entire market. Moreover, he had hardly left Chang Le Fang these past few days. Just a few days ago, he was a little chubby, but he had lost a lot of weight in just a few days. His dark circles under his eyes were also a testament to the exhaustion from his sleepless nights.
Shang Ruyi said, "Lord Wu, you've had a hard time these past few days."
Wu Huanzhi glanced at her and smiled faintly.
Shang Ruyi knew that he was still dissatisfied with Pei Xingyuan for selling overpriced medicine in Chang Le Fang, so he had been lukewarm towards her these days. However, it seemed that he had softened his attitude quite a bit because he saw that Shang Ruyi came to Chang Le Fang to help out every day. As a general's wife, it was indeed not easy for her.
So he just smiled and said, "We're just putting in the effort, it's not hard work for us."
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi understood that he was still unhappy about Pei Xingyuan's situation, and even more unhappy about their indifferent attitude.
There was no room for further discussion on this matter, so Shang Ruyi simply smiled.
Just as he was about to walk to the side, Wu Huanzhi hesitated for a moment, then said softly, "By the way, young mistress—"
"Um?"
Shang Ruyi immediately stopped and turned to look at him: "Is there anything else, Lord Wu?"
Wu Huanzhi looked at her, then back at the entrance to Chang Le Fang, his expression somewhat embarrassed. After hesitating for a while, he said, "At this time usually, Young Master Pei would have already arrived."
"...?"
Shang Ruyi was taken aback, then looked at Wu Huanzhi's conflicted expression and immediately understood.
Although he was unhappy that Pei Xingyuan was "harvesting" patients by selling overpriced medicine, the medicine was still life-saving. If Pei Xingyuan arrived late or sold less, it would affect the lives of the patients here, which is why he asked.
but--
Shang Ruyi looked up at the entrance of Chang Le Fang again. Indeed, at this time of day, Pei Xingyuan would have already set up tables there with his men and started selling medicine.
But today, at this very hour, no one has come.
Shang Ruyi hesitated for a moment, then suddenly turned to look at Tushe'er and Woxue: "Today is the day since the plague broke out in the city?"
The two maids exchanged a glance, wondering why she had suddenly asked this. Before they could speak, Wu Huanzhi said, "It's the ninth day."
"...the ninth day,"
Shang Ruyi murmured to herself, her brows gradually furrowing—
In other words, Chang Le Fang and Yan Zuo Fang were closed, and patients were concentrated here for treatment. It was also the eighth day that Pei Xingyuan started selling medicine.
Day 8...
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